The Cupertino Courier

Dining

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer

Sherry Ammatuna, owner of I Love Yogurt and a former stay-at-home mom, opened her own business at the urging of her children. They told her she should take the advice she always gave them: Follow your dreams.

Unique yogurt shop opens to applause in Cupertino

By REMY WELLING

Longing to travel but don't have the time or inclination? Sherry Ammatuna, owner of "I Love Yogurt," has fashioned a heartwarming re-creation of an Italian gelato shop, minus the gelato. Instead she sells almost every kind of yogurt, in a variety of flavors.

About two years ago, Ammatuna began bouncing ideas off her family about opening a frozen yogurt shop in the Bay Area. Her children, having always been inspired by their mom to pursue their dreams, now gently chided her to heed her own advice and turn her plans into reality.

With this in mind, the family flew to Italy last summer to experience the look and feel of real Italian gelato shops. They traveled to Venice and Naples, then Rome and Florence, noting the distinctive decor of each shop.

Finally, she decided to blend old and new, historical and modern. Inside I Love Yogurt, pendant lamps made of blown glass imported from Venice are suspended above the countertops. Marble flooring, the color of cream, lies beneath.

Two swirling cypress are placed between the tables and chairs. Outside, chairs are flanked by mini-tower Italian cypress trees and jewel impatiens flowers.

There are plenty of tables, along with chairs of stained wood reminiscent of a nice coffee shop.

Ammatuna conferred with her family to choose a location for the shop. With an ample supply of parking and the nearby De Anza College, De Anza Boulevard in Cupertino seemed ideal.

In mid-May, I Love Yogurt was ready to open for business.

Students from the local middle schools and high schools quickly discovered the shop.

More adventuresome customers have plenty of toppings to choose from, ranging from chocolate raisins to peanut M&Ms to gummy bears and many more, plus a choice of cones: sugar, cake and large waffle. With 24 hours notice, the shop can create custom-made frozen yogurt pies with chocolate, graham cracker or oreo cookie crusts.

Customers Kate Swan and John Armendnariz note the importance of finding healthy and very tasty dessert choices. The two also like the family-oriented atmosphere and said the frozen yogurt tastes really good. Their favorite flavors? Swan prefers chocolate, while Armendnariz likes vanilla, but is trying to branch out to other flavors.

I Love Yogurt is not a franchise, but a locally owned and operated business. Ammatuna employs a part-time staff of eight full-time students. Her staff comes mainly from Cupertino, Los Altos, San Jose and Saratoga. Matt O'Leary, 19, says, "I love working here, I really do." Ammatuna smiles, saying, "The people are the best part. They make it fun and rewarding."

If you go

The shop is at 10129 S. De Anza Boulevard in Cupertino, one block from Stevens Creek Boulevard. For more information, contact Sherry Ammatuna at 408.725-0200.

I Love Yogurt recently hosted a fundraiser for Monta Vista High School, donating a percentage of the proceeds from each sale back to the high school. A second event, this time benefiting Lynbrook High School, is scheduled Oct. 24 from 1 to 10 p.m.